Comminuted displaced fractures of the patella.

A series of 64 comminuted displaced fractures of the patella is reviewed. Morphologically the fractures can be classified into three groups reflecting the mechanism of injury and the degree of soft tissue damage. All fractures were operated on. Tension band wire was used in 21, partial patellectomy in 33 and total patellectomy in patients. The problem of the management of these fractures is often in making the choice between excision and internal fixation. In this retrospective analysis the results of anterior tension band wire fixation were acceptable even in severe comminuted fractures. Partial excision showed satisfactory results provided that at least three-fifths of the patella could be preserved. Total excision is sometimes clearly unavoidable but should be preceded by sober contemplation whenever considered as the alternative to internal fixation.